Jewel.ID

These days, most of us don’t think twice about how to find contact information for someone online: a web or social media search for a given name is likely to turn up several (if not hundreds) of results, that we then narrow down using other information we may know about them – such as where they work or, more simply, what they look like.

Though most of us might not use the term, this process of using additional information to confirm what real person “owns” a digital identity – like a social media handle or an email address – is what is known in information security as authentication. And while considered an integral part of secure digital exchanges – especially around encrypted data – it’s one of those aspects of digital communication security that’s best addressed in non-digital ways.

Jewel.ID is designed to help improve the process of digital authentication by making it easy and appealing for individuals to carry and share their PGP “fingerprint” with others. Using a laser cutter, on one side the Jewel.ID is etched with a decorative pattern or design of the bearer’s choosing; on the other, a QR code representation of the individual’s PGP “fingerprint” is inscribed. To share the code, the other party can simple scan the QR code with their mobile device, or snap a photo of the fingerprint string. This can then be easily compared to the fingerprint found on a key server or other website in order to authenticate it to that particular person.

Jewel.ID is sturdy, inexpensive, and easy to add to a keyring or wear as a necklace pendant. By moving the process of digital authentication to an attractive analog “channel,”
Jewel.ID can help improve your daily information security and help you look good doing it!